Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-02-26
The SPECTRAL MORTGAGE.
eaa A Genuine Ghost Story.

Several times after this / saw this
baleful specter of a young buck of the
olden time. He would nod to me
with a jocular air, but I did not care
to speak to him. One afternoon l
went into the house to look for my
wife, and, very naturally, L entered
the room where Pegram lay in his
little bed. The child was asleep, and
no one was with him. 1 stood and
gazed contemplatively upon my son.
He was a handsome child, and APP
parently full of noble instincts, and
yet I could not help wishing that he
were older, or that in some way his
conditions were such that it should
not be necessary, figuratively speak
ing, that his mother should continu-
ally hover about him. If she could
be content with a little less of Pegram
and little more of me, my anticipa-
tions of a matrimonial career would
be more fully realized. I
AS these thoughts were passing
through my mind raised my eyes,
and on the other side of the little bed
stead I saw the wretched ghost of
Buck Edwards.
"Fine boy" he said.
Ny indignation atseeing this impu-
dent existence within the most sacred
precincts of my house was boundless.
"You vile interloper !" I cried.
At this moment Madeline entered
the room. Pale and stern, she walk
ed directly to the crib and took up
the child. Then she turned, to~me
and said: ~
81 was standing in the doorway,
and saw you looking at my babe. 1
heard what you said to him. 1 have
suspected it BEFORE" And then, with
Pegram in her arms, she strobe out
of the room.
The ghost had vanished, as Made
line entered. Filled with rage and
bitterness, for my wife had never
spoken to me in these tones before, ]
ran downstairs and rushed out of the
house. ] walked long and far, my
mind filled with doleful thoughts,
When I returned to the house, ]
found a note from my wife. 1t ran
thus: ~ y, 3 ~. 4--,.
81 have gone to Aunt Hannahs with Peg
ram, and have taken Belle. L cannot live
with one who considers my child vile in
terloper." stlu
AS / sat down in my misery, there
was one little spark of comfort amid
the gloom. She had taken Belle
Ny first impulse was to follow into
the city and explain everything, but
Iquickly reflected that if did this
must tell her of the ghost, and | fell
certain that she never would return
with Pegram to a haunted house
Must /, in order to regain my wife
give up this beautiful home? Fo
two days I racked my brains anc
wandered gloomily about.
In one Of my dreary rambles en-
countered the ghost. "What are yo1
doing here?" I cried. "Miss Bell
has gone"
~ know that" the specter answer
ed, his air expressing all his usua
impertinence and swagger, "but she'l
come back. When your wife return
she's bound to bring young Miss"
At this, a thought flashed throug
my mind. If any good would com
of it, Belle should never return
Whatever else happened, this ms!
lent ghost of a gay young buck shout
have no excuse for haunting m
house.
"She will never come back Will
you are here" / cried.
81 don't believeit," itcooly answel
ed.
Imade no further assertions on tn
subject l had determined what
do, and it was of no use to be angr
with vaporing creature like thi
But might as well get some info
nation out of him.
"Tell me this" / asked "if, for an
reason, you should leave this pla'
and throw up your situation, so
speak, would you havea successor
"You needn't think / am going,
it said contemptuously. "None
your little tricks on me. But I'll ju
tell you, for your satisfaction, that
| should take it into roy head to Ct
the place, there would be anoth
ghost here in no time"
"What is it," l cried, stamping n
foot, "that causes this house to be
haunted nv ghosts Whom tbara a